FIFA attacking tutorial, How to attack in FIFA

Attacking in FIFA 17 is very different to previous FIFAs, a combination of developing play, working openings and finishing chances when they appear. Against a good player you may only get one or two openings so it is important that you know the best ways to react in different situation in order to put away those all important goals.

First touch

First touch depends on direction of ball and position of feet or body. Easier with very high rated players or high ball control. Press LT or L2 to trap the ball and higher skilled players will cushion the ball with different parts of the foot or even chest. You can also try using the LB or L1 to trap the ball as that is the button for stopping and facing the goal. Works really well for stopping ball generally from a pass.

Small nudge. As the ball arrives nudge the left stick in the direction you want to pass or run next. Your player will turn his body and nudge the ball in that direction as his first touch. This is extremely effective for making a small bit of space for your next pass or to create space for a shot.

Knock on. Use right stick this time to knock the ball further ahead into space as you are about to receive the ball. If there is space flick the right stick towards it and your player will burst in that direction. Flick the stick twice or three times and he will knock the ball on further and further. Excellent for wingers looking for that space to get a cross in and strikers to beat the defender for a shot.

Working space

Using 1-2s and sending players on runs are the best way to create space. Pass and move, easier in 17 as players make intelligent forward runs on their own.

A lot of your options and play style in each game will be determined by your opponents play. How they play and the opportunities which they present to you. This is why you must adapt to each game while using a fundamental set of skills to out think and outplay your opponent.

For example, if your opposition is playing very high pressure you will have to react differently to get the ball up field and create space with his players constantly pressing you and cutting down your time on the ball. This is opposed to a player who stands off and doesn’t track runs, who you could exploit easily by playing lots of lobbed through balls after a one two pass. Just because one method works doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t mix it up a bit. The key to winning against a variety of opponents is building up a larger set of skills, attacking methods and a greater understanding of the game. Also quickly learning how your opponent plays and of course a bit of luck is always helpful.

Some methods are more successful than others and you will generally find yourself adopting a certain style of play after a while that suits you and you are happy with.

Holding the ball

Just hold left trigger (LT or L2) to shield the ball. This is really effective so practice using it. One of the best ways to defend in FIFA 17.

If a player is running onto you the best method for keeping the ball is to either pass it away if a pass is available, or back away and try to turn the on rushing player. To do this, ensure your player is facing either diagonally away or has his back fully turned from your opponent and then start moving in the direction away to prevent a rushing tackle.

You can now use slow dribble hold just the left bumper (LB or L1) to turn in small angles. If they are directly behind you, you should be able to turn easily in either direction with no tackle made. If however they start to try move up and press on one side ensure you turn to the opposite side in order to prevent a tackle. Some opposition may hold off slightly and press form a slight distance. In this case try turning slightly in one direction then going the opposite way to confuse them. You can do this multiple times to try shake them off.

Sending players on runs

As you pass the ball into your opponents half of the pitch your team mates like to stay nearby and keep up with play but lack the lack of adventure to make a run and create further options.

This is where they just need a push in order to stretch play a create that defense splitting run, allowing you to play them in, or run into the space they have created by dragging the defenders away.

In order to send your players on a run tap the left bumper (LB or L1). This will cause a nearby player to point forward to where he is heading and proceed to run towards goal.

If done correctly you can use it to get your players to run past the opposing players before you pass to them moving the ball up the pitch, or allow them to run in behind the defense ready to receive the ball you play round the back putting them through on goal.

Remember that just because you have sent them on a run, you don’t necessarily have to pass the ball to them. The space they run into might get closed down, or a better ball may be on so use this method to move your players higher up the pitch and to create space by dragging defender away.

When going on a run, players will keep going until they are in an offside position before stopping and re-taking their position so make sure that the ball is released before the receiver is offside.

You can also use one – two passing to send you players on a run as covered later on in this guide.

Passing

Make sure you read our mastering passing page featuring a must watch video. Will help you understand how the game mechanics work to improve your passing.
Any players with high ball control and passing are awesome in FIFA 17. Players like Messi will rarely make a bad pass. If your player has used energy running and low stamina passing will be slightly worse. Generally with assisted passes will go where you want but these two variables do influence the outcome. Also aftertouch can still be used in FIFA 17. After releasing pass button curl the left stick around in different directions to watch the ball curl. If playing Ultimate team make sure the overall team chemistry is as high as possible, 85+ ideally over 90. Players with 7 chem will perform fine if top players.

Lobbed passing

As oppose to just passing the ball along the ground, you can also utilize the lobbed pass to clear an opponent and play the ball to you player.

This is especially useful when working the ball out of defense to avoid it being intercepted high up the pitch for example when playing the ball short from the keepers feet, if there are any players nearby try using a lobbed pass. This will prevent the attacker cutting out the ball and move the ball up the pitch.

The lobbed pass is also useful for switching play from one side of the pitch to another avoiding all the players in the middle and creating space of the other side of the pitch. Use around ¾ power in this situation to ensure the ball reaches the other side of the pitch and make sure there is a player there ready to receive it to advance the play further.

Driven lobbed ball

To play a driven through ball, hold right bumper (RB or R1)and press lobbed pass. This will play the ball the ball reasonably low but with power so that it reaches the player quickly.

This can be useful to use from distance to play a long ball in to a player or alternatively around the box where. When played as a short ball with not much power it will drive a pass to the attacker above the feet of any defenders nearby making it hard for them to intercept it and creating space for the attacker once controlled to play the ball on or take a shot.

One Two pass

Without a doubt the best way to get through an opponent’s defense is by using a one two pass. This sets the passer off on a run as soon as the ball is released so that he can then receive a return ball after making his run. This is a very effective way of getting around defenders and getting your players to run into space behind the back of the opposition defense.

To set off a one two pass simply hold left bumper (LB or L1) when you pass the ball then pass the ball back at any point after to complete the pass. Once you have set off a one two pass you do not have to return the ball to the first player and can use them as a decoy or simply just to move your players up the pitch. Although most of the time they will continue running until the player is interrupted, they become offside, or they do in fact receive a pass so beware of the player running offside in this scenario.

Through balls

Like the one two pass, through balls are an invaluable method of getting the ball around the defense, either through the middle or down the wings in order to create a shooting chance.

Use through ball button and play a ball ahead of the receiving player in order for them to run onto it. You can also play a lobbed through ball which is particularly useful when sending players on a run. Or when using it at the end of a one two pass so that the receiving player is running on to collect the pass. Note manual through ball is very different to the assisted version. It is very difficult to do a quick lobbed through ball which has a lot of pace using manual.

The straight through ball differs from the lobbed through ball as it is played along the ground. In order to determine which ball is the most suitable to use, check to see if defenders are nearby to intercept it. If not use the ground version. This will ensure that the player can control the ball quicker without having to deal with the high ball.

Alternatively if there is an opposing player in the path of ball or it there is a player nearby who you think may be able to get in the way of the pass then a lobbed through ball is the better option. You will also need to ensure that your player running onto the ball is close enough to the defender if you are playing a ball over the top in order to get past him and onto the ball before he can turn to defend it.

When running onto a through ball (make sure your striker doesn’t have ball) you can bend your run or make your striker approach the ball at a different angle to prepare for a shot or pass by using double trigger (LT+RT or L2+R2). Just slightly take your striker to the side of the path of the ball. The defenders will be confused and most important your player will not slow down by taking a touch. So a slower defender will not catch you up. Also the way to nudge the ball further in front of you when running – make sure holding sprint (RT or R2) and flick right stick in direction running.

Sending your player on a run double tapping the left bumper (LB or L1) in preparation for the pass helps to create space and will also drag players away as they try to mark the run. You can also use a through ball with a one two pass which will set the passer of on a run ready to receive a return pass or through ball higher up the pitch as covered next.

Dribbling

To do very slow dribbling hold LB or L1 while moving (note if stood still this now does fifa street type skills). This gives precise movement. Then you can nudge left stick or right stick into space. Left stick for smaller flicks right stick for longer flicks. Or combine LB L1 control when stood or slow moving with a skill.

The next type of dribble is close control but moving at a normal pace. To do this hold LT or L2 only. You can turn while running slowly and just as defender tries to get close change the direction of the left stick.

Precision dribbling is small changes of direction and skipping to side of players. To do this hold both LT and RT or L2 and R2. You can move to the side dragging the ball with you and slightly diagonally backwards and forwards. Try using this when approaching box and a defender is about to try tackle or slide. You can move sideways with the ball or diagonal to miss it and then burst away with left stick into box or simply shoot now you have time and space. Or even just carry on running if they attempted a slide.

Combining all three methods above gives greatest reward and makes your attacks harder to read. If you only use one method all the time your opponent will know what you are going to do and can defend it easier.

Pulling away

Pulling away is a big problem it seems for players of FIFA. You are through with Walcott (fast player) then along comes John Terry (slow player) and catches you up. Apart from higher stamina and acceleration what else can you do to “pull away”? Well actually a few things.

If lots of space ahead do double knock on (right stick twice in direction facing).

Do the heel flick forwards as provided on skills page only 3 stars needed and watch your striker pull away.

Don’t sprint at the start! If running and defender running just do normal run not sprint, wait until they are almost next to you then start to sprint. Otherwise they will probably catch you and tackle.

Hello,
I just cant get the ball on a through pass and keep on the run , when i receive the ball its like i stop for a mili sec and than run again, whats the trick to get the ball without that lil miss step, hope u know what i mean. And please can someone finally tell me where to point for headers? is there an angle sheet out there that can save a player from missing like crazyyyyyyy,,,or mabey im pressing to hard .

I am begining to really get sick and tired of playing online games in FUT as i continue to pile up losses after losses inspite of the quality of my players and my skill level.
Here is what I am up against:
1. During games something is usally activated by the opposing team, and i mean 18 out of 20 opponents i face which causes my players to star acting weird, suddenly they can’t hold on to the ball or lack balance, they are sluggish and too weak to kick the ball inspite of being 100% fit.
2. Whenever out of desperation i start pressing the pad frantically and randomly this appears to wane off, immediately the opposition will press start to call up the player change screen and will re-activate the dummy mode again and my players will start acting weird again.
3. No matter how hard my goal keeper plays a shot out it will always end up in the hand of the opposing team
4. Even when playing against an all bronze team they will always out pace and perfom better than my team.
5. When i am defending in teh box 18 or clearing out the bal it will always be redirected to the opposing team who will hammer in the short into the net
6. My goal keeper will become fixed like a statue and any shot from any distance goes into the net.
7. my players become fixed and even a ball will hit them without being conscious or active.
8. The opposing team controls and re-direct my players even when i have the pad in my hands.
9. Even on a high speed internet connection, my team always experience a few seconds lag between the time i press the pad to the time the action is taken, whenever i have the ball.
10. No matter how far ahead my player is when i am running and have the ball i am immediately slowed down to walking mode which gives the opposition ample chance to take the ball away from my players
Please somebody help!!!, I’m begining to hate this game!

Quite a list we feel your pain. The reason isn’t your opponents who are doing anything bad. At worst they will have bad connection. It is a combination of various problems realted to the internet and your ISP and the Playstation network/Xbox live network and finally EASports servers. We are going to update the Lag Fix page on the site.

Think maybe you are both having connection issues or just need to learn the game more. We have seen the best Pro players hardly lose a game in 100 games on Ulitmate team so that points at either connection problems or needing to understand the game more. We are updating the pages so keep an eye out. You will also notice a big update to FIFA lag fix page and connection page.

ive been trying to find a solution in dribbling. while i dribble, the usual stuff is my opponent does push and pull. i did encounter a few players that can counter this. ie. i push and pull them but they push my player away while he’s dribbling the ball! how do you do this? can you help please? thanks!

Not quite sure what you mean. If you are dribbling your player slows down. Flick the right stick twice ahead and create space. Or do a skill to make space. Or just stop running press L1/LB to stop sudden so defender runs past.

my player is not running diagonally…….not even moving diagonally….i mean he is moving and running diagonally in the downward direction but not the upward direction….does controller settings have to do something with this….please help me resolve this problem!!!!!!!

i just got my ass kicked in fifa 14 for almost a week, done broke 2 controllers, i just cannot stand the sluggish of my players, should i get players with better ball control and reaction over 80 or better? when i passed the ball to my ST, the opposition CB, passes my ST and intercepts the ball! what button are they pushing to do that? also i have Kompany has my CB, he has never intercepted a pass, for the 2 1/2 weeks i have been playing this game, smh, can you make a tutorial on pass interception?

probably i just need to start spamming, team contain button and stay in the middle and just watch the game. i dont know. never had this problem before. or should i change the controller settings from air balls to auto again, because with auto, i always was able to intercept in fifa 12 and 13.

have always played 4-3-3 or 4-1-2-1-2 but i am experimenting with 4-3-2-1 and 4-2-3-1 for now, but i losing a lot of games, because i dont like team containing, i like doing all of my tackles, but the annoying part of this is that my CM or CDM dont intercept the ball. mikel, essien or yaya toure dont intercept, any insight will be welcome. or should i just take the “cowards” way out and use 5-3-2 or any 5s, lol

Hi I’m playing FUT and I have a really good team I’m currently playing against the computer on ultimate but what I’m finding is that if I play a lobbed through ball to either hazard or mata or another fast paced player they are quickly caught up by a defender who is much slower, how is this possible.?

Excuse my ignorance. Fifa 14 is first football game I own. I find many players I face online use side footed shots against me with lots of curl. Especially when they are one on one with the keeper. Usually in this situation I would use normal shooting but my shots are very often stopped by the keeper.

How do I play this side footed shot with curl? I’ve read the section on aftertouch but it doesn’t really make sense to me.

I play on XBOX with alternate controls (“X” is shoot). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

hi i got 3 questions
1) every time iam running towards the goal it looks like my own player running along side me and i eventually bump into my own player and loose the ball because they dont move but keep running is there any way i could push off my other player not too run into me and move away from the direction iam dribbling the ball to ? cause it gets real annoying and frustrating.
2) every time i take a shot at the goal it looks like my own players come forward and block my shots is there any way to get them to move away from the direction and not block the shots?
3) every time i take corner kicks if i miss the header then other one of my players come forward and tries the volley but the problem is my volleys always seem to be high sky rocketing is there anyway to keep those volleys down?
i use 4-2-2 custom formats
with
rb-cb-lcb-lb
RM-cmd-LM
Cam-CF-ST
chelsea career mode
cheers

1. Never seen that happen. Maybe you are pressing LB/L1 to send a player on a run then not passing but running in same direction. Otherwise no idea how you are doing it.

2. Same answer as number 1 no idea how you are doing that. Never seen it.

3. Hold the left stick towards goal on volleys and only press 1/4 power. Also not many players good at volleys, look for high volley stat. Also keep looking here on more help and the heading tutorial we are updating too.

just to let you know that number one that this guy said happens to me all the time, it does happen alot if you do the 1 – 2 pass to a teammate that is quite close, then taking on and beating the defender that the original passer has just run past, because (presuming that your in your opponents half and vaguely central and youv started to follow them) of the way Fifa is programmed or whatever, the defender that should be marking the guy that you have already sent onwards doesnt and rushes to you forcing you to play the through ball then the other defenders close the gap an you usually loose the ball.
IF however you take on that second defender and beat him to the gap stays open the other defenders dont close it up, as you try and run through it yourself, your own player will either bundle into you, run over the ball an flick it with his foot or in some rare occasions where you hit the gap as your other player strays offside the other player will virtualy tackle the player with the ball and you will be given offisde.

I am having huge difficulties passing. In Fifa 13 I set passing length to like 10-25 and my players would all the time come towards the ball when receiving a pass. Now they just seem to stand still and to wait for the pass to arrive – so it’s gets intercepted by the oppenent a lot of times.

Can you also post what controls you have set for passing in regards of assisting etc.

Hey buddy nice site you got here, really useful stuff. Look I got a genuine request, I consider myself really good at Fifa already and rarely lose, I have 31 division titles ( you can check – my psn : xaks333x ). I plan to compete at the FIWC next year, I was wondering whether you or someone in your team could play a match or two with me to see my weaknesses and what I can improve on, doesnt matter who wins or what not, but I assume you are good at analysing a player. Please do send me a request or reply, cheers man.

Hey, I have 2 questions?
The first, do you think high pressure is over powered in the game?
And the second what to do or buttons to press if opponent starts killing time in their half?
The reason I think high pressure is overpowered is because if it wasn’t the players would be in red in stamina by halftime with the running they put.

In section 8. Lobbed through balls. I found this bit of information interesting but do not quite understand: –

“When running onto a through ball (make sure your striker doesn’t have ball) you can bend your run or make your striker approach the ball at a different angle to prepare for a shot or pass by using double trigger. Just slightly take your striker to the side of the path of the ball”

Basically the bit about changing your runners approach… i don’t really get how this is done?

Helllllo, I was playing fifa 13 against a mate and he pulled a sweet move on me that ive never seen before and ive searched high and low but just cant find anything about it. He was passing the ball about and passit down the wing, the receiving player did a little dummy and let the ball run across him, its not the R1 dummy either, can anyone help 🙁

It will have been the R1 if you are facing certain ways it will use different animations. Or if the game gets confused and thinks the ball is going to a different player can happen. There isn’t another way to dummy the ball.

I think I know what you are talking about dude. Ribery does this trick every now and then – unintentionally on my part. I’m also not sure how its done (what buttons to press) but the player basically switches the ball from one side of his body to the other side by shuffling the ball across his legs while jogging or running…and NO, ITS NOT A CHOP. It’s a soft and subtle move but can be efective when done at the right place, at the right time.

Hey . I just changed from PES to FIFA . I have few question to ask as below:

Q1) How to prevent opponent tackle when my goal keeper throw in or kick off ?
Q2) Why opponent wingers so easy to break my defender & easily enter penalty
box from wide positions. How to prevent it.
Q3) Why opponent so easy to tackle when my players just received the ball from
others teammate. How control & prevent?
Q4) Why opponent so easy to create one by one condition by using lob passing
& I so hard create one by one by using lob thru passing. How to prevent & how to
do it ?

Not sure what you mean in Q1? Q2 – FIFA has an issue with player work rates. Any left or right back with high attack work rate will not stay in defence. Look at the defending page. Q3 – Read the defending page so you can understand how they do this. Q4 – An issue in FIFA the lob pass always too easy. You have to learn to manually switch defenders to control them earlier and deeper. Again on the defending page. Also the work rates of the players again.

Hi I play tika taka with Barcelona I always control the possession more than %50 I always dominate the game I score a lot of goals against them but only with one counter attack they score from the defensive area the pass the ball long to Ronaldo and he pushes it toward so that I can’t catch him up with pique or puyol even mascherano pls how can I stop counter attacks and except the 4-3-3 formation what is the best formation for barca

Hi, I was wondering if there is a way to control a player other than the owner of the ball to run forward. In PES you press the right stick and the nearest player starts making a run forward, which gives you better prospect to create a counter attack or speed up the attack.

Hey again. I have another question but this time on the attacking side of FIFA. Whenever my players have a breakway, the opponents will manage to catch up like it’s nothing, and outbody my player really easily. How do you body while dribbling? I’ve had several people shrug me off when I try to catch up to them even with a smaller player. On the other hand when I try that not only to they catch me but outbody me with no foul. Obviously I would press the push and pull button (B for me on xbox) but when I’ve tried that I accidentally shoot the ball way into the stands. Again any help would be helpful.

I’m new to Fifa this year and I started on Amateur, and worked my way up to semi-pro. I feel like I’ve gotten good enough to start working on professional…I tried. And can’t score any goals…most times my opponent scores 1 or 2 times. Are there any tips on playing professional? I’ve noticed on amateur I can basically run the whole field, but semi-pro is more about passing, but what is there that can help me win professional?

In order to send your players on a run tap the left bumper. This will cause a nearby player to point forward to where he is heading and proceed to run towards goal. What do you mean by this ? and what button am I supposed to tap ? I play with an ps3 controller.

okey. Do they automaticly run or is this when passing only ? and I’ve always wondered when you have a throw in far up on the feild, is it possible to make your players to run in possition so you can throw to them. cause when you have throw in far up nobody wants to help you with the throw. they are either to far away or to far in the box so its not possible to hit them with a throw

and one more thing. Some guys I play with are ridiculously good at attacking with 3 or more players everytime, even if they win the ball up high on field, their players immediately make rush forward to help. When I win the ball high I always have to pass backwards couse it seems like my players dont want to attack at all or make any runs to make them self available . Thanks for answering mate.

Many FIFA players often use unessecary trough balls against people who play Cover defence. This NEVER works. Use the cross botton instead and hit the troughball with a simple one-touch pass IN THE NEXT STEP.
MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE

Hi. I really need help. Every time I play in UT, everyone seems to contain, and I can’t break there defenses. Any help there on how to be contain? Also, when I try to contain, my defense always breaks apart because they’re really inconsistent at containing. Can you please help.

I’ve having trouble controlling the ball on the run over the top. If I have a forward making a run between the opposing two center backs, I almost always fail to control the ball. If I press left trigger then my player slows down and defenders beat me to the ball. If I don’t press anything, usually player has poor control and it rolls to goalie or too far in front.

I have been playing the season game online and I am on season 5 right now. My biggest issue is when I have an attacker (messi) that is running ahead of the defender alone and is easily caught by the defender, meanwhile the opposing team does the same thing and I can only see their offense players increase their distance from my defensive players. It is frustrating. What am I doing wrong? Even when I

If they do through balls maybe they are holding LT+RT/L2+R2 to move the striker out of the way of ball so they can run onto it in space and not slow down. That is in the help on here look at the secret skills page here – http://fifaaddiction.com/skills/secret-skills

Hi, I recently started playing UT and have a overall of 83 and 100 chemistry, but I go online and lose by 1 or 2 goals most of the time. As I’m sure you’d understand, it is frustrating. I would like to know if some formations are better than others, and if it is just best to buy a team that is just pace, which i never wanted to do. thanks.

FIFA is all about finding a style of play with formations and players that suit you. Maybe try various ones we added two new sections on custom formations and custom tactics which we will keep adding to.

So im having more problems with my attacking and gameplay in general, do you have any idea as to why my attackers would not follow up on a shot that was punched by the keeper? I haven’t scored a rebound goal in ages, they are in position but will not one touch the ball to shoot on goal. The other thing, I’ve played over 700 matches online and sometimes I’m great, sometimes I’m terrible, but the thing I’ve noticed which I believe to be a problem is something with my ai, my players on a header will 85% of the time miss the ball completely on a cross into the box, it’s like something is f**d up and doesn’t allow them to contact the ball. I’ve updated everything that I can buy sometimes I wonder if the game itself is having issues… Help please

People are only really interested in world cup players at the moment. Ultimate team is pretty much over now until FIFA 13. Can usually find profits in Brazilian players or In forms with skills or pace.

i have a friend who always seems to beat me,he often uses the slide tackle and it annoys the hell out of me any tips on beating this guy?.Great site by the way! but you should give instructions on the playstation for us who dont own xboxs

So I really like how you break things down and I’ve read almost all of the different chapters. There are still a couple things I’m having problems with. I’ll try to explain as best as possible and hope you can present a solution. The 2 things I still have problems with is… 1. my offensive players meeting the ball when passed to them with a ground pass and 2. the opposition’s defensive players automatically right on my guys as I pass to them.

The first problem I tried to solve by lowering my custom tactics to slower speed and slower passing on the offensive end. i thought this would help make them come back to the ball when passed to them.

The second problem I tried turning up my pressure on defense and turning up how high my defensive players move up the pitch and not just sit back. Still they absolutely will not intercept the ball as it comes to the offensive players. They will wait and then get blown by.

You need to change the settings so that you have switch player to airballs only. Then you can manually select players yourself and drag them towards ball. There is also a setting for player movement so that they continue in the same direction. Off, low or high. Try experimenting with those settings and manually selecting your players. You can then move them where you want on and off the ball easier. Basically your opponent is switching players quicker and moving defenders before you are moving attackers.

How can games be explained where your players are SLOWED down to like 70% of the opponents pace (no matter team rating) and every pass tends to get intercepted, and John “The Turtle” Terry (with ease!) catches up with Pedro and tackles him like he was a latvian 3rd division player?

And I could go on… *sigh*

My point is – there is soooo many things in online play that can’t be explained by lack of skill, tactics or not enough cleverness with the ball.

For instance – when I have those games I somewhat often have success with changing my formation – and that gives me a general advantage to my opposition – regardless of my (or my opponents) skill level.

Issues I REALLY suspect is: server lag, button lag, ping issues, etc. etc. and I GENERALLY think that these things has MUCH MORE influence on the outcome of the game rather than skill…

Point 1, using Messi one on one I would score 9 out of 10 times. So how you aren’t is worrying. What do you do to try and score?

Thanks for reminding us to update the attacking section. Check no8. Through balls curving your run using double trigger. And accelerating away tips in no12.

As you will see in real football actually a 3rd division Latvian could easily catch Pedro if they have the determination and stamina. A lot of football is about the mind as well as the body. In Ultimate team try losing lots offline to get your players morale to lower than 60 and stamina down to 75. Then see how you are beaten by a worse team online easily. An unhappy tired player in FIFA is just like real life. Not much use.

Also when you change formations online depending on your opponents and how they play it can change the game a lot. Often if struggling with one I will change formation and tactic. So from high pressure ultra attack to a more slow passing containing game. Often the opponent will only have one way of playing so you have better chance against them.

well exactly as i said: Ex: Messi hits the post or misses in front of an EMPTY(!) goal. What I do to try and score is tap the “o” button on my PS3 controller…

“A lot of football is about the mind as well as the body. ”

Yea and FIFA 12 online seems to be a lot about whatever script the AI pulls out of it’s sleeve to make gameplay more (un)realistic. *sigh*

I don’t play Ultimate Team or any leagues online – cause I couldn’t care less with leaderboards etc. – simply just H2H friendly matches every game.

“Also when you change formations online depending on your opponents and how they play it can change the game a lot. Often if struggling with one I will change formation and tactic.”

The online thing it doesn’t change is the gameplay speed which varies A LOT from game to game. Ex. gameplay this afternoon has been UNBELIEVABLE SLOW and it’s NOT my A+ rated steady cable connection with an WIDE OPEN GATEWAY. No router – no firewall – just my modem plugged into my PS3 with open NAT1 etc.

I just don’t buy it… no matter how much EA claims that it’s not their crappy SEWERS that is the problem.

There has to be some explanation to this frustrating annoying online issue! Maybe some sort of verified profile/IP priority or whatever.

I’m in absolutely no doubt that my equipment meets all of the requirements for a good online experience – just not when it comes to FIFA ONLINE which half the time is one big frustrating disappointment!

…and again today! Been playin online since noon. EVERY GAME IS SO FUCKING SLOW IT’S UNREAL!

Only playing Barca 4-3-3(4) or 4-2-3-1(1) and I’m struggling with REALLY BAD opponents who is CONSTANTLY a split second ahead of my players…

My players are slow, have much less physics than normally, passing is VERY un-precise getting easily intercepted, their finishing SUCKS and opponents goalie pulls out AMAZING 1-on-1 saves, out of this world… And I could just go on and on and on… *sigh*

I tried different tactics, formation etc. I tried PATIENTLY passing the ball around in the back to create space and waiting for the right opening, done perfect one-two’s followed by a lobbed through ball leaving Messi with just open space behind the defence and a keeper – but only to watch the ball staying in the air forever before it reaches him and when he finally gets the ball a defender is already taking the ball away from him again…

NOTHING helps!

Ofcourse if you live next door to one of ea’s SEWERS you probably never (or only rarely) notice these issues.

And it’s not like I live out in the aussie bushes… I live in central Denmark, in the 3rd largest city in the country (Odense) and Danish ISP’s generally have quite high standard lines so I HIGHLY suspect EA ONLINE to be the problem – though I will never be able to prove it *sigh*

What can be done..? Because this is WAY below ANY acceptable standard of online play!

It’s a PS3. Like I stated earlier my connection is fine! Speedtest.net and pingtest.net A-rates it 9 out 10 times…

Like I said – no router, no firewall. Scientific Atlantic WebStar modem – a wide open gateway with maximum NAT-tolerance etc. Green latency bar before each game and so on. (I don’t even proceed to shirt selction if it toggles between II and III bars.) I seek first of all a good connection cause I know it means EVERYTHING when it comes to online gaming.

EX. I’ve just played a game 5 mins ago. Barca vs. ReaI. I controlled everything in the 1st half, up 2-0 with EASE! After the break the game turned around out of nowhere! My players suddenly became slow, unprecise passing etc. (the exact things as described earlier…) resulting in a quick comeback from 2 harmless crosses. Then it was all down hill from there. I quit the game when Özil with the ball at his feet outsprinted Dani Alves leaving me no other option commiting a proff.foul.

This annoyning turnaround has absolutely nothing to do with skill or anything else that can be explained with whom is behind the controller.

I’ve played FIFA since 08 so I quickly spot if my opponent beats me fair and square simply because he’s a better player.

What will happen? *lol* I’m just an average FIFA player so you’ll definately beat the crap outta me! ;o)

What’s your PSN/EA tag?

I’ll give it another go with latetst squads and removing any custom tactics.

Cboxoak

Posted February 28, 2012 at 10:34 AM

Thnx – I’ll ad you in the near future.

Issue update:

I downloaded latest squads yesterday and switched formation to 3-4-2-1 as suggested in formation section if you are the “controlling type”. (confindece or cockyness?) It kindda suits my style of play – I think…

I also – as suggested in tactics section – tweaked Barca’s default tactic slightly: One with narrow team defending (32 width) and also a tactic with wide team defending (67 width). All other sliders I left untouched! I found the wide one especially effective against an opponent with 4-3-3. BTW – I always use “team pressing” with my D-pad (good or bad?) and with mentality set to “normal.”

I dunno if I’m just fooling myself but this seemed to help my game speed issue somehow. Only tried it for 2-3 games last night so lot more testing to come – both during daytime and in the evening to make sure that is has nothing to do with my ISP’s server-traffic.

Cboxoak

Posted March 11, 2012 at 5:31 PM

Slow online gameplay/button lag issue update:

Been testing for a week now and things just gettin worse and worse. *sigh* Online play have been “ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE” the last 5-7 days.

Button lag is HUGE and my opponents beat me with EASE almost every time. Against REALLY bad players I suceed a narrow hard fought win now and then.

Only changes to the game is a custom formation (just for fun) – nothing else.

Online gaming now is so frustrating for me that I’m on the edge of QUITTING the FIFA-series entirely cause there’s simply NO FUN in being beaten by crap players just because of online/server (dis)advantages…

Hi there.
Have been trying many of these methods and have been working quite well but one problem i seem to have is retarded overpowered keeper charge. I mean i get clean through and keeper pulls an amazing save out of his A** from 2 yards.. How the hell am i meant to combat this? iv tried Finesse, Lobbing (which sucks d**k) and even right stick flick which usually ends up the keeper bringing down my player and no FK / Pen… -.- or a slow defender recieving superspeed boost to get to the ball before i do. I really dont know what to do against this, i just had a match where i had 27 shots on target against a guy but his keeper was just outrageous, closing down any through ball in a flash and of course he wins 3-2 when he only had 2 shots on target (facepalm)

Usually players who aren’t very good find it hard to score against my keeper. You have to practice the lob which is very effective. Also the rabona flick lob, the secret lob finish and the right stick nudge diaganol. If timed right always goes past keeper and scores in empty net. Also try a small lob thru ball pass to nearest other striker. Works wonders. Practice these and let us know. Will create a finishing video at some point.

hello there, i just got in to division 2 after a long time I’m having trouble facing the defenders they seem to slow down i make one two passes, bust a couple of skills and if I’m really lucky i get through but by the time i take a shot it gets blocked as I’m already surrounded 🙁 i play with gal madrid btw.. if you could give me any advice it will be appreciated greatly 🙂

Just what’s on the site. If you are in Div 2 I don’t think you need too much help 😉 For top two divisions have to start looking at tweaking the default tactics to suit your style of play more. Will try expand that section.

Hey I am having a really hard time beating high pressure/ secondary pressing players online. I know the key is to pass, but it seems they constantly get a foot on my passes. I tried changing my tactic to “possession” to give myself more options but it isn’t helping. Any formation you would suggest or anything I can do?

You need to be better at quicker passing and using the first touch options provided to take the ball away from the pressing players. If they press and you turn them quick using left stick nudge in diffferent direction suddenly you have lots more space.

I’ve actually had the same problem for a while. I found that actually slowing down and looking for open players in your team quite helpful.

You will also notice that in certain areas of the pitch once you become accustomed to doing this, that you will automatically know where to pass the ball before you can actiually see your team mates come into screen. It is surprising how often when you do this that the opposite wing to where you have the ball will be wide open for a through ball, it’s just that you can’t see that area of the screen at the particular time.

Get used to mentally checking that area and trust me, you will get through at goal a lot more often.

Hi Bundy, for heading press the shoot button before the ball is going to reach your player and then flick and hold the left stick where you want the header to go. The timing of the stick move and when you press the button is key. Practice in some exhibition games. Also try taking control of the receiving player earlier (manual player select) using left bumper and move towards the balll before the defender or striker.